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Once Upon a Time – Beauty and the Beast

TV Review

Once Upon a Time - Season 1, Episode 12: “Skin Deep.”

Rumpelstiltskin was-is a monster, but not according to Belle. This was the story of Beauty and the Beast.

I didn’t think it was possible, but Rumpelstiltskin the most powerful
person in fairytale land was far more ‘human’ than the evil Queen.

During the Ogre wars a man asked for the assistance of Rumpel to
save his family and friends. Of course, any deal with Rumpel came at a
price. Belle (no, she did not read books) would become the caretaker of Rumpel’s house. Belle agreed.

Rumpelstiltskin spun straw into gold, that’s his thing. Beautiful
Belle took care of his house, that became her thing. Like the story Beauty and the Beast, Belle became less intimidated or afraid of Rumpel. In fact, she found him funny. They actually enjoyed each others company.

That unnerved Rumpel. He had lost his son Bae. He
was not about to let his heart open to love nor did he fill worthy of love. He told Belle to get straw from the village. Belle asked him if he was
afraid that she would not come back. He said he expected it.

Belle left.

And who by chance would Belle cross paths with on the way to the
village. Evil Queen rode up in her black carriage, drawn by black horses
and surrounded by knights in black armor (ugh). Evil Queen told Belle if Rumpel was kissed by true love he would become an ordinary man once again.

Why would she say such a thing?

Power-monger. If Rumpel became human then Evil Queen would become the
strongest force in fairytale land. Belle returned to Rumpel. He was so
excited to see her from the window.

He raced down the stairs, took
his seat and spun straw. Behaved nonchalant at her return. Belle was onto him.
She sat next to him and asked him to tell her the story of his son as he had promised when or if she returned.

Between here and there Belle kissed him. Rumpel’s golden skin for a
brief moment looked human. He told her to get out. That no one could
love him for the beast that he was. The he chose power over love.

Belle knew better. She told him that he would regret this decision
and left. The only memento he had of her was a chipped china cup (just like Beauty and the Beast, so cool!).

Evil Queen paid Rumpel a visit. She told him some fabricated story
that Belle’s father had locked her up in a tower. That she was tortured.
That Belle died.

Mr. Gold robbed by Belle’s father at the behest of the
Mayor. Mr. Gold kidnapped him and gave him a beat-with-cane until
Sheriff Emma stopped him. Mr. Gold sent to jail. Regina paid him a
visit, alone.

Regina had his chipped cup. She would give it to him if Mr. Gold would admit to his real name. Mr. Gold said,

'Rumpelstiltskin.'

He in turned called her 'Queen.' So now they both know that they are the only two fairytale characters who remembered
their identities. She gave him his chipped cup. You could see that meant
more to him than gold.

So what happened to Belle? Regina had her locked in a solitary cell
in the basement of a hospital. No one had seen her nor visited her.